DoJ urges Congress: Pass ‘demanda me’ law
Overstaying or undesirable aliens consent themselves to be sued before the prosecutor’s offices and the court to prevent deportation
Daily TribuneOverstaying or undesirable aliens consent themselves to be sued before the prosecutor’s offices and the court to prevent deportation
The Department of Justice or DoJ yesterday urged lawmakers to pass a law against the so-called "demanda me" scheme being resorted to by overstaying foreigners to prevent their deportation.
Under the scheme, overstaying or undesirable aliens consent themselves to be sued before the prosecutor's offices and the courts.
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano lV said a pending case in the prosecutor's office or in court is grounds to stay the deportation of a foreign national.
Clavano said the DoJ is "seeking the wisdom" of Congress to pass legislation to stop the practice.
"The DoJ is willing to provide all the necessary statistics, case studies, and other relevant information for consideration of the esteemed congressmen and senators," he added.
The scheme was revealed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla during the recent budget hearing at the Senate.
Clavano said, "Several embassies have come to the DoJ to seek help in deporting fugitives back to their jurisdiction."
"However, every time they make a request, and after we look at our records, we see a pattern where after commitment to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration, cases are immediately filed against those detained at the immigration detention center," he said.
Most of the cases, he said, are "violence against women and children or estafa."
He said upon strict scrutiny of the evidence and intelligence reports, the cases were found to be either very weak or absolutely fabricated.
"The filing of weak or fabricated cases is their desperate attempt to stay their deportation," Clavano added.